Director of IFE Hardware: Strategy, Growth & Leadership

RAVE Aerospace LLC; Brea (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office allowance

Discretionary bonus program

401(k) with company match

Paid time off + holidays

9/80 schedule: every other Friday off

Job summary

RAVE Aerospace LLC is seeking a Director of IFE Hardware Products to lead the full lifecycle from concept to retirement. You will define the vision, drive the roadmap, and align Engineering, Certification, Production, Sales, and Program Management to deliver growth and competitive advantage.

The role requires extensive experience in product leadership within IFE hardware, strong strategic abilities, and exceptional stakeholder management. A comprehensive benefits package accompanies the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 10+ years of experience working in product roles.
• 7+ years of experience working in a management or leadership role.
• Extensive product management or industry experience, with deep knowledge of IFE hardware and market dynamics.
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, portfolio management, and lifecycle ownership of complex products.
• Strong technical foundation in IFE systems and hardware, with the ability to translate customer and market needs into product strategies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term vision and strategy for the IFE hardware portfolio.
• Champion and communicate the product roadmap across the organization and with executive leadership.
• Translate strategic goals into product direction, priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with executive stakeholders to set business priorities based on market trends, customer needs, and financial impact.
• Provide executive oversight for product design, feature definition, and lifecycle management from concept through retirement.
• Influence and align cross-functional leaders—including Engineering, Certification, Production, and Sales—to execute product vision effectively.
• Act as the executive customer advocate, maintaining strong relationships with customers and OEMs to ensure evolving needs are reflected in the roadmap.
• Oversee continuous improvement efforts by integrating customer, operational, and market feedback into both current and future products.
• Establish and manage performance goals, capacity planning, and budget allocations to optimize resources across product development functions.
• Collaborate with Strategy, Sales, and senior leadership to shape long-term portfolio direction and ensure competitiveness in the market.
• Represent the IFE hardware organization in quality, regulatory, and OEM audit processes at the executive level.
• Provide executive-level reporting on portfolio performance, risks, and resource planning to senior leadership.
• Lead, develop, and mentor senior managers and their teams to ensure organizational capability, growth, and high performance.

Skills

Executive leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Portfolio management

Lifecycle ownership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Product management

IFE hardware experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

RAVE Aerospace LLC is seeking a Director of IFE Hardware Products to lead the full lifecycle from concept to retirement. You will define the vision, drive the roadmap, and align Engineering, Certification, Production, Sales, and Program Management to deliver growth and competitive advantage.

The role requires extensive experience in product leadership within IFE hardware, strong strategic abilities, and exceptional stakeholder management. A comprehensive benefits package accompanies the position.